No Day But Today

A familiar refrain from the largely forgettable musical, Rent. But yet, this line and the implications of it have been echoing in my head recently. Perhaps it is because this past year (my twins will be one year old in three weeks) has gone by so fast. I look back and see that I spent way too much time worrying about bullshit that really doesn't make a difference. I guess that is easy to do when you are in the middle of something so monumentally hard to do as working full time and taking care of two infants and a toddler.

So why do I break my non-creativity streak and post now?

Two reasons: NCAA tourney and Kids

NCAA tourney - this event to me has become the premier sporting event of the year. I would say that college basketball is my third favorite sport behind college football and soccer. But, this tournament is the most riveting event around. Each game is a drama and the overall product delivers the goods every time. Last year, my team, Florida, played like there was no day but today and improbably won it all. This year, every pundit acts like it would be a failure if they didn't win it all, but I think it will be the greatest accomplishment of my lifetime should they do it.

Take these points:

1) The best team seldom wins the NCAA tournament
2) The team that can impose its game on others, wins more often than it loses
3) The team that can play defense best wins

For point #1, the best team left is Kansas, followed closely by North Carolina. All the stats back me up on this and head to head, Kansas beat UF earlier this season in an OT game that UF was lucky to force.

For point #2, UF is better at your game than you are. If you want to play half court, they are better at it than you. In the half court game, Horford is unstoppable. If you want to play physical, they have the strongest and most fearsome player in Chris Richard. If you want to run and gun, Noah, Green and Humphrey will quickly light you up. Yet, Kansas is even better at all of that than UF. Their larger guards can bury shots like no one else.

For point #3, Georgetown wins here, but Hibbert is such an overrated stiff, that they will eventually stumble. The next best two teams are Kansas and North Carolina. UCLA plays good defense, but Afflalo is such a head case, I don't trust them against an equally matched opponent.

No Day But Today. That is the only way that Florida overcomes the gorilla named Kansas that lies ahead on March 31 in Atlanta. Leave it all behind and don't think of what could happen if you were to lose. No Day But Today. All of the pundits that have picked Florida to win, likely already have half of the column written that describes how foolish they were to pick them should they fall without a championship. Live the moment like it is your last.

I am confident that both of these teams will not let the clearly inferior opponents left stop them from what should be the true national title game. As much personal pain as it would cause for UF to play UCLA again, I would welcome that so much more than having to face Kansas.

Kids - There is nothing like having kids to bring up all the hang-ups and fears you have about yourself. I know that my little guys don't analyze everything I say to them and take it as a life lesson. But I do think they every day has the potential to be a day that is remembered forever. There are days from when I was 3 that I can still recall very vividly. My oldest will be 3 soon and her earliest memories will be formed. No Day But Today.

Every day is a gift, every laugh, smile, milestone, tantrum and lesson learned is something to cherish.

She went with me to Ma'ariv services tonight and really surprised me by being very well-behaved, very insightful and sweeter than I could ever be. Ma'ariv services start at 7:45 PM at this time of year which is a horrible time of day for a two and one-half year old. They are tired and ready for bed. I explained that this service was a quiet place as we entered the temple and she was perfect. The only sounds she made were "Amen's" and an insightful comment.

As we sat down for the mourners to recite the mourners kaddish, she says, "Daddy, where is Mr. God?" This drew a couple of laughs from the other folks around us. I did tell her that Mr. God is "everywhere".

As we finished the service, I asked her to think a good thought for her Aunt Sheila. She stopped and closed her eyes and then looked at me. I asked her what she she was thinking of, and of course she replied, "Aunt Sheila." Sheila, you have Eliana on your side, and with her comes lots of love and all of the things that Mr. God can do to help. You can't lose.